Get lost (literally) in Sulaymaniyah's huge bazaar, said to be the largest in the Kurdish region. Give yourself a whole morning to wander the alleys and streets of this traditional market, where visitors can find just about anything they look for, from beautiful jewellery, to detailed maps of Iraq and Kurdistan, flags, instruments and a lot of food including vegetables, fish and endless supplies of very sweet sweets.
Before stepping into the bazaar from the main entrance, visitors will find a mural of Qazi Mohammad, president of the Republic of Mahabad in 1946 and the founder of the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran. On the gateway into the bazaar images of killed activists from Iran's Kurdish region look down on visitors.
Enter the bazaar and you'll find yourself on Mawlawi St. Make your way over the bridge, under which many people gather for late night meals.
The covered areas of the bazaar, between Malawi and Kawa streets, have a more genuine feel to them, with the ensuing chaos that comes with crowds of shoppers, loud vendors and clucking chickens and the smell of spices and sweets wafting in the air.
